'Cyber-Priest' bullied out of church after criticising congregation's binge drinking

'Cyber-Priest' bullied out of church after criticising congregation's binge drinking

A LIBERAL vicar dubbed "The Cyber-Priest" was bullied out of his parish after just nine months in the job when he unearthed a culture of binge drinking amongst his congregation, a report said today.

PUBLISHED: 12:57, Thu, Jan 23, 2014

The priest got his nickname after using social media to detail a 400 mile pilgrimage [CAVENDISH ]

Simon challenged something about the culture of St Faith's and upset some key members of the 'inner circle' of St Faith's power

Rt Rev Stephen Lowe

Newly appointed Fr Simon Tibbs, 41, fell foul of traditional elements of his flock after he tried to enforce a ban on excessive alcohol consumption by "unchristian" worshippers who were said to be treating the church "like a social club."

Those enraged by the Church of England cleric's booze crackdown, plus his sacking of a Sunday School teacher, began a whispering campaign against the vicar to hound him out.

They encouraged others to demand he quit as "Priest-in-charge" of St Faith's church in Crosby, in Liverpool where the late former Achbishop of Canterbury Dr Robert Runcie was a once member of the congregation.

One parishioner claimed Fr Tibbs was "not blessed with skills to develop relationships" and said the vicar "upset several parishioners" over his dismissal of the Sunday School teacher.

Last September Fr Tibbs stepped aside from his post and a retired bishop began an "Episcopal Visitation" into claims of "serious relationship difficulties" between the vicar and his worshippers.

Today a report by the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe blamed a mysterious unnamed "inner circle" which turned against Fr Simon after he challenged their after-service drinking.

Bishop Stephen described its findings as "disturbing and distressing" and the report has now led for calls for a "new fire to be kindled" at the church.

The priest got his nickname in 2010 when the BBC featured him using Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube to detail a 400 mile traditional Christian pilgrimage he made from Edinburgh to the shrine of St Mary the Virgin in Walsingham, Norfolk, to raise money for Christian Aid.

He took over as vicar in St Faiths in January last year after reading about Dr Runcie's links to the area and moved into the vicarge with his dog Poppy.

He described the church its website as an "outward-looking inclusive community formed in the liberal Catholic tradition of the Church of England".

During his tenure Fr Simon would encourage more family oriented services to persuade young people to join the church.

He held "pet blessing" srevices with reports of dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises, hamsters and even snakes sitting in the pews with their owners.

At the time of his appointment Fr Simon said: "I knew all about Rev Runcie's background in Crosby and the remarkable life he had. I came up to visit and just fell in love with the area and the people here who all seem amazingly warm and friendly.

One parishioner claimed Fr Tibbs was not blessed with skills to develop relationships [CAVENDISH]

"What really struck me as a southerner coming up here was how people are so willing to strike up a conversation with you."

But the investigation into the vicar's departure identified "serious failings" in some church-goers which was said to be "not befitting of a Christian community".

Bishop Stephen's report said: "There was a culture amongst a very small number of members of St Faith's that bullying and the undermining of Simon Tibbs are acceptable as a means to an end - his removal."

The report said the new priest unearthed a drinking culture at the church which Bishop Simon described as similar to a "social club."

He added: "Members enjoy Anglo-Catholic worship of a traditional kind but have little interest in either Church growth or mission to the community in which they are set.

"Simon challenged something about the culture of St Faith's and upset some key members of the 'inner circle' of St Faith's power."

After Fr Tibbs enforced a cutting down of alcohol consumption after church and the replacement of an elderly Sunday school leader, splits appeared amongst the congregation as some members began to call for his departure from St Faith's.

The report said this 'inner circle' was "a group of long standing members of St Faith's. It added: "They felt the maintenance of the historical legacy of the church rested with them and any attempt to change it should meet with fierce and organised resistance".

"Simon's critics clearly believe 'the Church that trained an Archbishop of Canterbury' and 'has the biggest quota in the Deanery' should remain untouched."

"There is evidence of some political division between a left-leaning priest and some small number of very right-wing members whom your visitor found extremely difficult."

Members were also criticised for non-attendance at the church, failing to support St Faith's financially and a lack of what Bishop Stephen calls "spiritual discipline".

Fr Simon is now a minister at nearby St Mary's church in Crosby. His job was taken by a female vicar.